Foldable reel for narrow fabrics



Feb. 20, 1945. F. FOX 2,369,958

FOLDABLE REEL FOR NARROW FABRICS Filed April 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 /6 W I 5/ 50 INVENTOR.

| Fen/m FOX 4 TTOR/VEYS Feb. 20, 1945. F. FOX 2,369,958

FOLDABLE REEL FOR NARROW FABRICS Filed April 23, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. FIE/INK Fox ,4 Z'TOR/VEYS Patented Feb. 20, 1945 FOLDABLE REEL FOR NARROW FABRICS Frank Fox, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to J uliann Whitehill Funke, Pelham Manor,

Application April 23, 1942, Serial No. 440,189

2 Claims.

This invention relates to reels and refers more particularly to spools or reels used as carriers for narrow fabrics, ribbons, yarns and the like.

An object of the present invention is the'provision of a spool or reel which is light in weight and which has the form of a flat blank when not in use, so that it can be conveniently shipped or transported at low cost.

Another object is the provision of a spool or reel consisting of a fiat substantially two-dimensional blank which can be easily folded or set up by the user to provide sturdy supporting surfaces for the object to be wound.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent in the course of the following specification.

In accomplishing the objects of the present invention it was found most satisfactory to provide a reel which is folded from a blank made of cardboard, heavy paper or the like. The blank is so formed that after its folding some of the sides of the reel have projections for guiding the object to be wound. Some of the side surfaces of the reel may be strengthened by various edges orinwardly folded portions to provide suiiicient resistance and to prevent a collapse of the reel during the winding. The blank carries tongues which are of such form that they provide a firm and sturdy connection with the other parts of the reel after it is properly folded and set up.

The invention will appear more clearly from the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings showing, by way of example, preferred embodiments of the inventive idea.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a die cut cardboard or paper blank which is adapted to form a reel.

Figure '2 shows in side elevation the reel as it is being folded.

Figure 3 is a perspective view illustrating the folded reel.

Figure 4 is a section through the reel along the line 4-4 of Figure 5.

Figure 5 is a section through the reel along the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of a differently formed blank.

Figure '7 is a perspective view illustrating a reel made from the blank shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 shows the same reel in side elevation.

Figure 9 is a section along the line 99 of Figure 8.

Figure 10 is a plan View of yet. another reel blank.

Figure 11 shows the reel formed from the blank of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a section along the line I2-|2 of Figure 11.

The reel shown in Figures 2 to 5 of the drawings is made of a die cut flat blank or sheet of paper, cardboard or any other'suitable material, which is shown in Figure l and which includes outer end portions I5 and I8, similar to each other in form. Each of these portions has two opposed curved edges [1 and IS. The end portion l5 has projections l9 and 20, while the end portion I6 is provided with similar projections 21 and 28. The

the end portion l 3 is provided with a similar cen- I tral opening 58. I

The end portions l5 and 16 are joined by an outer side portion 24. The outer end portion I5 is folded in relation to the outer side portion 24 along the lines 25 and 26 which extend on both sides of the projection 2c. Similarly, the outer end portion I6 is folded in relation to the outer side portion 24 along the lines 29 and 30 situated on opposite sides of the projection 21. The outer side portion 24 is substantially rectangular in form and has straight parallel edges 3| and 32.

An inner side portion 33 which is substantially rectangular in form, is situated on the blank on the other side of the portion l5 and is provided on opposite sides with flaps 34 and 35 bent in relation to the side portion 33 along lines 36 and 31, respectively. The flaps 34 and 35 are severed from the end portion l5 which is bent in relation to the side portion 33 along short lines 38 and 39 situated on opposite sides of the projection l9.

A similar inner side portion 40 constitutes one end of the blank and is provided with flaps M and 42 bent in relation to the portion 40 along the lines 43 and 44, respectively.

The two inner side portions 33 and 40 are joined by an inner end portion 45 having sides 46 to Q9 which extend at an angle to each other and which form stops or abutments for the flaps 42, 35, ti and 3d, respectively. The end portion 45 is provided with a central opening 56 and is separated from the inner side portion 40 along the folding line 5 while the folding line 55 separates the inner end portion 45 from the inner side por tion 33.

The other end of the elongated blank is constituted by an outer side portion 50 having straight edges 5| and 52 and terminating in a tongue 53 having angular projections 59 and 60 and converging side edges.

The folding of the reel is illustrated in Figure 2. The outer end ortions I5 and I8 are bent in relation to the outer side portion 24 along the lines 25, 26, 29 and 30, and the inner side portion 33 is bent in relation to the end portion l5 along the lines 38 and 39. The inner side portion 40 and the inner end portion 45 are bent along the lines 54 and 55. Then the inner side portion 40 is brought into engagement with the outer side portion 24, and the flaps 34, 35, 4| and 42 are bent inwardly along the lines 36, 31, 43 and 44, respectively, until the flap 34 rests against the edge 49, while the flaps 35, M and 42 rest against the edges 41, 48 and 46, respectively, as indicated in Figure 2, of the drawings. Thereupon the outer end portion I6 is placed over the inner end portion '45, the outer side portion 50 is placed over the inner side portion 33 and the tongue 53 is inserted into the opening 6| limited by the lines 2| to 23 and formed when the projection I9 is moved away from the inner side portion 33 (Fi 5).

The folding and. the setting up of the reel is then completed. The projections I9, 20, 21, and 28 of the reel serve as convenient guides for the winding of a ribbon or the like. The openings 56, 5'! and 58 make it possible to place the reel conveniently upon a shaft or spindle. Two outer side walls 24 and 50 of the reel are reinforced by inner side walls 40 and 33, respectively, so that the ribbon may be wound with considerable force without damaging the reel. The other two sides of the reel are formed by flaps 34, 35 and 4|, 42 which are held at a convenient angle by engagement with the angularly extending edges 46 to 49 of the inner end portion 45. This engagement is sufiicient to prevent the flaps from being pushed inwardly during the winding, while the angular position of the flaps facilitates the winding to a considerable extent.

Obviously, the edges of the inner end portion 45 may be provided with slots or recesses receiving these flaps, or other means may be provided for connecting the flaps with the inner end portion.

The tongue 53 has projecting portions 59 and 60 which engage the edges of the opening GI and thus provide a firm and permanent connection.

It is thus apparent that the applicant has provided a novel and inexpensive reel or spool for ribbons and the like which may be shipped in the form of flat sheets, which is light in weight .and sturdy in construction, and which may serve as a convenient substitute for metal, wooden and artificial resin spools now in use.

The blank shown in Figure 6 includes two end portions and II which are substantially circular in form and which are joined by a substantially rectangular strip I2. The strip I2 is bent in relation to the circular end portion 70 along a line I3 which is situated within the circumference of the portion I0. The adjacent corners of the strip I2 are cut off from the portion I0, so that two angular projections I5 and M are formed in the portion I0 as soon as the folding along the line I3 takes place. The end portion II is provided with similar projecting ends I6 and 1! and is separated from the strip I2 along the folding line I02.

The end portion 10 carries a comparatively small tongue I8 which is bent along an inner line 19 in relation tothe portion I0 so that the latter contains projections 80 and M. A similar tongue 82 is separated from the end portion II along a line of folding 83 so that projections 84 and 85 are formed in the end portion II.

The side strip I2 extending between the end portions I0 and II is connected to a comparative- 1y short tongue 86 along the folding lines 81 and 88 situated on both sides of a narrow slot 89 which is adapted to receive a tongue 90.

, The side surface of the reel is constituted by two portions 9| and 92, the portion 9| being folded at an angle to the strip I2 along the line 93. Another strip 94 is separated from the side portionsv 9| and 92 along the folding lines 95 and 96, respectively.

The strip 94 includes a slot 91 enclosing a flap I00 and adapted to receive the tongue 82 of the end portion H. Another slot 88 encloses a flap IM and is adapted to receive the tongue 18 of the end portion I0. The tongue is bent in relation to the side portion 92 along the folding line 99.

To fold a reel from this blank, the side portions 10 and II are bent in relation to the stri 12 along the lines I3 and I02, whereupon the side portions 9| and 92 are bent along the lines 93, 95, 96 and 99 and the tongue 90 is inserted into the slot 89 of the flap 86 which is bent along the lines 81 and 88. Finally, the tongues I8 and 82 are inserted into the slots 98 and 91, respectively.

This reel has the advantage that the side portions SI and 92 are substantially cylindrical in formso that the winding of a ribbon is considerably facilitated.

The reel shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12 of the drawings consists of a blank having the two outer sideportions I I0 and II I and an inner side portion H2. The outer side portion H0 has two curved edges H3 and H4 as well as tongues H5 and H6 situated on both sides of a projecting part II! of the side portion I I0 and separated therefrom along lines H8 and H9. The tongues H5 and H6 are bent in relation to the side portion H0 along lines I20 and I2I, respectively.

A similar projecting part I22 is provided on the opposite side of the side portion H0 and in the blank is situated close to a projecting part I23 of the side portion III. The two projecting parts I22 and I23 are cut from the blank along lines I24, I25 and I26, so that they extend on opposite sides of an opening when the blank is folded.

A narrow side portion interconnecting the two end portions H0 and III is formed by two webs I21 and I28. The web I21 may be bent in relation to the end portions H0 and III along the lines I29 and I30, respectively, while the web I28 is bent in relation to these end portions along the lines I3I and I32.

The inner end portion H2 is joined to the outer end portion III by an outer side portion I33 which is separated [from the inner end portion H2 along the folding line I34 having two narrow slots I35 and I36 for the insertion of tongues H5 and I I6, respectively. The outer side portion I33 is separated from the outer end portion III by folding lines I37 and I38 situated on opposite sides of a projecting part I39 which is out out of the blank along lines I40, MI and I42, and which constitutes a part of the outer end portion H I.

The inner end portion H2 is provided with a flap I43 which constitutes an inner side portion when the blank is folded and which is separated from the portion H2 along a folding line I44. Flaps I45 and I46 are separated from the inner and I28, whil the flaps I45 and I46 constitute outer side portions extending between the end portions H0 and III.

The projections Ill, I22, I23 and |39-serve as convenient guides for the winding of a narrow fabric or yarn upon this reel. This construction is particularly suitable for reels having narrow sides and used for the winding of narrow ribbons or the like.

It is apparent that the specific illustrations shown above have been given by way of illustration and not by Way of limitation and that the structures described above are subject to wide variations and modifications without departing from the scope or intent of the invention, all of which variations and modifications are to be included within the scope of the present/invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A reel made from an elongated blank, said blank when folded comprising two outer end portions extending in parallel planes, each of said outer end portions having two outwardly extending projecting parts situated on opposite sides of the outer end portion for guiding an article to be wound upon the reel; at least one inner end portion, two inner side portions situated opposite each other, flaps carried by said inner side portions on opposite sides thereof and constituting two reel sides which xtend between said inner side portions, said flaps engaging said inner end portion to increase the resistance of the side when an article is wound thereon, an outer side portion covering one of said inner side portions, and another outer side portion covering the other one of said inner side portions and carrying a tongue having angular edges and extending into a slot formed in said other inner side portion, whereby the folded portions of the blank are held in place.

2. A reel made from an elongated blank, said blank when folded comprising outer end pertions, at least one inner end portion, side portions ext nding between the outer end portions, and flaps carried by said side portions, said flaps constituting some of the sides of the reel and engaging said inner end portion to increase the resistance of the sides when an article is wound thereon, at least one of said portions carrying a tongue, at least one other of said portions having a slot formed therein and receiving said tongue to hold in place the folded portions of the blank, said outer end portions carrying outwardly extending projecting parts for guiding an article to be wound upon said side portions.

FRANK FOX. 

